NEWS & BLOG

The real estate world was surprised in early June when the Bank of Canada raised interest rates another quarter point. All signs had been towards a holding pattern up until the announcement. But a robust jobs report in April, combined with our ever increasing spending and debt accumulation, led the central bank to this decision. And while we are all hoping that this is the last rate hike for a while, the next meeting on July 12th may hold another surprise for us.  What does this mean... [read more]

Our city has some of THE BEST activities happening every summer! This year will not disappoint! Check out this short video and start planning! https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cs0-ueAgtrz/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== [read more]

I'm a big proponent of affordable housing. And of protecting our environment. So when I saw this news item I was very impressed and excited to learn about this local company that is promoting both. Take a look and if you are interested in them, then reach out! Canadian homebuilder unveils net zero, energy efficient home near Brockville, Ont. | CTV News [read more]

Anyone who knows me, knows that my family means everything. My boys make me smile, laugh, scream (mostly in a good way), and all that I do is for them. An our amazing RE/MAX Finest Realty Brokerage awards on Saturday April 15th, I was honoured to receive a Hall of Fame award for $1 million in gross commissions over a number of years. Our amazing brokerage surprised me (and others with whom I share this honour) with a video of my guys. I bawled. I'm so proud of them and I guess they are... [read more]

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/bank-of-canada-holds-interest-rate-steady-as-it-forecasts-inflation-to-slow-to-3-this-year/ar-AA19M1OS?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=53babff294c64f1ab4453f62129acf8d&ei=180 [read more]

It's been a long while since I updated here. In spite of the ongoing pandemic, the market in 2021 and 2022 was on fire. Average house prices in Kingston continued up and bidding wars were the name of the game. Towards the end of 2022, interest rate hikes slowed the market briefly, but we have entered the 2023 spring market with multiple offers reemerging.  What does this mean? For Sellers you should still be presenting your home in the best possible condition. This will give... [read more]

348 Picton Main Street is on the market for the first time in twenty years. This historic home, built in 1880 for the Gillespie family, the local mercantile family, is walking distance to all the wonderful shops and restaurants that have reopened in town.  This majestic brick home has been lovingly restored by its current family and has been run as a successful B&B (other than when COVID put a wrinkle in the plans). It could easily carry on if you have always dreamt of such a... [read more]

The numbers don't lie. The housing market continues to be on a tear in our beautiful eastern Ontario city. The Kingston and Area Real Estate Assocation (KAREA), of which I serve as a proud board member, released the most recent statistics which show brisk sales in February 2021. The average detached home price exceeded $600,000 for the first time ever.  A lack of inventory, and an increase in the number of buyers has contributed to the dramatic increase. Year over year, that... [read more]

We who live in Kingston and surrounding area have known this for a long time. But now the rest of the world knows that if you're looking to get out of the GTA, Kingston is the #1 place to move to, according to the Huffington Post. While the article points out our low unemployment rate and historic downtown, I can tell you it's also because it checks off so many other boxes. Want good healthcare? Kingston General Hospital, Hotel Dieu and Providence Care hospitals provide unique... [read more]

February 10th is usually a day I remember because it's my darling sister's birthday (Happy Birthday, Kate!). This year it's extra-memorable because it's the day Kingston and surrounding area emerged from 6 weeks of lockdown and became a little more lively. We did a good job of keeping our COVID numbers to a minimum, people obeyed the rules about masking and distancing, and we can now look forward with some hope that we will get a summer vacation. Real estate... [read more]

Great news! As of last Friday, July 17th, our region entered Stage 3 of the COVID-19 Ontario Reopening. Restaurants, bars, gyms and other places where people could not gather inside will now be open under strict conditions. For the real estate world, this means that we are allowed to host open houses again.  Have we returned to 'normal'? NO. Normal won't come for many months, or perhaps even years. In our region, we have been fortunate to have had so few cases. We have... [read more]

As we enter the 3rd month of COVID-19, the real estate market is coming back to life. People are learning to go on with life, albeit differently, and that means moving home. As I'd predicted to colleagues and clients, the spring market in Eastern Ontario has merely shifted a few months and we are now busy. We continue to have low inventory, bidding wars and quick turn-arounds from the time of listing to offer.  As your advocate in all things real estate, here is what I'm... [read more]

When it comes time to sell your home, you will likely be put in a situation where home updates, repairs, and upgrades are recommended in order to boost the value of your home for maximum returns! Now before tearing down a wall or throwing your money at everything it's important to understand not all home renovations are equal. Below you will find a list of the top 5 home renovations that have significant impact on your selling potential: 1. Improve energy efficiency This... [read more]

Obtaining a mortgage can be intimidating and confusing. Similar to the buyer and seller guides, I’ve outlined the mortgage process for you in 4 easy steps! 
 
Step 1: Mortgage Application 
 
Before an application gets filled out, it’s important to first asses yourself financially. Figure out how much money you have and how much you need to borrow. It’s always critical to sort out how much you can afford so that when you apply for a mortgage you will be able to... [read more]

Your satisfaction and happiness is something that is very important to me. I understand how hectic it is to sell a house and it can be difficult if it’s not handled properly. To help you through the entire process, I’ve put together five simple steps: Step 1: Decide to Sell When you sell, you want to get as much value as you can for your home. So you might want to consider the timing of the sale because it definitely has an effect on the value. You don’t want to sell... [read more]